Report Finds Merrill Lynch Charges Investors Highest Fees

Do you know the difference between a:
Broker, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), Financial Planner, Investment Advisor Representative (IAR), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or any other designation "financial advisors" use?

Do you know which ones are fee only? Which have a legal requirement to act as Fiduciaries? Whether the same person can "switch hats" on their clients at any time?

Do you know how each are compensated? How their compensation can cause a conflict of interest in the "advice" they give you? What financial tools each has available and how they are limited?

As we do for military missions, we need to understand the operational landscape before committing to an action plan.